The SkiProphet Test Team has been riding next year’s boards and skis since early last week in Winter Park, Colorado. Even with the loss of their lame leader due to a busted tibia and a partial ACL tear, the Team has forged happily ahead test driving the 2011 product lines.
There are SkiProphet Teams at Snowbasin, UT, Mammoth Mtn., CA., Alpine Meadows, CA. and several nordic centers…
See how the skis are stacking up at www.rateskigear.com.
It was a pretty typical Boxing Day afternoon at the local town ski hill, especially for the type of snow season we’ve had so far: just a pair of trails open, marginal groomed sugar and ice with not much fresh snow and hardly a soul to be seen in any direction. My friends and I decided to hit the chalky corduroy of the main trail for one last run before we called it a day.
And then it happened. I was in a pretty deep carve, coming over one of the last roll-overs of the main trail. For a split second I got a bit more back-weighted than usual and leaned into my turn slightly more than normal. This position on the unforeseen sheet-ice ahead led my edges to completely loose bite, whereupon my feet kicked out of from under me and I was in a full-on, 30-mph sideways slide. As I braced myself with my hands to slow the fall, I didn’t consider the position of my right thumb, wrapped in a pole strap and placed between the palm of my hand the snow. Big mistake.
As I came to a stop, collected myself and skied off to the bottom, I realized that something was not right with my right digit. At first it felt like an occasional sprain. But as time wore on, I knew something about it was worse. And I was to be proved right: a torn collateral ligament and a disrupted dorsal hood on my basal thumb knuckle, otherwise known as Skier’s Thumb.
That was almost 2 weeks ago, and now I am 2-days away from thumb surgery to install a permanent implant and a temporary pin into the basal joint of my thumb, finished off with a plaster cast for 1 week, a splint cast for 3 more weeks, a light splint for 6 weeks more, and then several more weeks of physical therapy. All of this because of one little sliding fall across a groomer on a tranquil afternoon.
So where does this leave my ski season in the coming months? Stay tuned to find out more, as I find out more myself!
RateSkiGear.com user Paul recently rated the “175” from a SCC Skis 97 out of a possible 100 points.
Paul’s likes: “The SCC 175 Twin Tip was one of the most impressive skis that I’ve demoed in recent weeks. Fully symmetrical from tip to tail with a center mount, the SCC 175 would be a blast for the park & pipe (it’s early season and Winter Park hasn’t opened the Railyard or the Super Pipe yet). I ran these skis down some wind scoured hardpack and they held the snow like a Ferrari. They actually got more stable as I loaded them with speed. Terrific in the few bumps that I found on Upper Chesire Cat, the SCC 175 really showed their airworthiness when I caught 40-50 feet of air launching off the crossroad. Very quick edge to edge I could transition from carving to wedl without a hitch.”
His dislikes: “I couldn’t find anything to dislike about the SCC 175. The pair I tried had been recently tuned and the tails were a little grabby but that was due to an inadequate de-tuning, and that was only noticeable on the windswept flats.”
Click here to see the review in full detail!
RateSkiGear.Com user Paul recently rated the Rossignol S7 BC twin-tip, reverse and conventional camber ski a 98 out of 100!
His likes: “The S7 BC by Rossignol is one of the most innovative and versatile skis on the market. Combining all of the recent developments in ski technology the S7 is a rockered reverse-camber twin-tip fat ski with reverse sidecut on the tips and tails and regular camber and sidecut underfoot. With superb flotation this is the ski you want on your feet on a big powder day in the backcountry. But just because the S7 is a fat powder ski doesn’t mean you can’t hit the groomers at your local resort. The regular camber and sidecut in the waist mean the S7 performs equally well on groomed cruisers.
Okay I’ve skied over two weeks now on the Rossi S7 and I had to come back to re-rate them. The S7 has gained an additional 4 points on the rating (originally 94/100) as I’ve come to ski them under more varied conditions and terrain. They rip in the bumps, and I’m a Mary Jane skier so I know a little bit about moguls. I’m having a blast skiing in the trees with them. I’m an avid tree skier but these skis have given me a whole new level of confidence in the woods. And now that we’re actually getting some snow here I can say that the S7’s rule the gnar! I’m floating over freshly fallen fluff over 18 inches (give or take) of structureless sugar. While my buddies are all crashing and burning into the bottomless I’m floating along laughing. As hard as may be to believe these “fat” skis actually carve, take them out on some groomed pack powder and see. Once you find your “center” on these you’re not going to want to ski on anything else. Featured on the cover of Powder Magazine three times so far this season (you may want two).
Get a pair before they’re all gone”
His dislikes: “As no ski can truly be all things for all conditions the Rossignol S7 is not an ice skate, so if you have to ski ice, then you might want something a little narrower underfoot.
I’ll stick by this dislike. The S7 is not bad on the ice and slick hardpack but it’s no ice skate.”
Head on over to his review to check out the pictures and video of the ski in action!
RateSkiGear.com user Team Billy rated the Fischer Watea 94 a 97 out of 100. His comments: “I don’t like “fat” skis. I liked this ski. It was tested on groomed runs only with patches of firm snow and the edge hold was amazing. Easy to turn, very damp, like all good Austrian skis. The design innovation is very unique and will definately draw attention. In addition, logic tells me that the “boat” tip will get you up on the snow.”
For more on his review, check it out here!
Look out for the Dynastar Big Dump! A new addition this year to the revered Legend series, this rocket ship is about as burly as they come. The Big Dump has the same sturdy construction as its smaller siblings- the XXL and Pro Rider- but with considerably more width and an early rise tip to keep the Big Dumps from submerging when skiing a really big dump! Incredibly stable at speed, the Dump has a super long turn radius and with single offered length of 192 cm, these skis are designed for arcing 50 mile per hour pow turns on exposed Alaskan faces and leisurely stomping 40 footers. If you are weekend warrior at the local resort, a backseat skier, or have a heart condition these boards are NOT for you (no one wants to see patrol carting you down the mountain on the meat wagon). But if you duck ropes more often then not, spend half of your salary on an annual heli-trip, or are on a quest to find the gnarliest skiable line in the universe then the Big Dump just might be your dream ride.
The Watea 114 is a new addition to Fisher’s freeride line. It is the fattest ski in the Watea series which has now completely replaced the now classic Big Stix freeride line. The 114 proved to be exceptionally light for a ski its size (I skied it in a 186cm length) and it managed to hold up reasonably well while cruising choppy hardpack and groomed resort terrain. The 114 (as well as the new Watea 101 and 94) features a tip shaped like the bow of a boat to drive up the ski and prevent hooking in deep powder. Along with the “Powder Hull” tip, the Watea also sports a simple yet sharp looking woodgrain topsheet to round out a great package designed to maximize your pleasure in all your powder pursuits.
Likes: This ski was very responsive in powder and soft conditions, made quick smooth turns in the trees, and maneuvered through the crud and powder ski up with ease. Likewise was very responsive in soft bumps.
Dislikes: I did not like its edging on hardpack, it was very grabby and almost threw me a few times when I made the transition from powder to hardpack.
Flex, Energy, Power and Acceleration 4
Responsiveness in Short Radius Turns 4
Responsiveness in Medium Radius Turns 4
Responsiveness in Long Radius Turns 5
Stability and Control at Slow Speeds 5
Stability and Control at Cruising Speeds 5
Stability and Control at Fast Speeds 5
Performance and Edge Hold on Hardpack/Ice 2
Performance on Groomed Lift Served Packed Powder 3
Performance in Crud/mixed conditions 5
Performance in Powder 5
Performance in Heavy Wet Snow Spring Conditions N/A
Performance in Steeps, Chutes, Couloirs, Backcountry 5
Performance in Bumps, Trees 5
Performance in Racing and Competitive Events N/A
Design, Innovation and Graphics 4
Durability and Warranty N/A
Value vs. Price Paid N/A
Overall Impression 4
Would you buy this product (again)? 0
TOTAL SCORE = 85/100
I use this Product for Recreation (NO)
I use this Product for Work (NO)
This was a Product Test ONLY (Yes)
Name: PJ Collins
Discipline: Alpine Skiing
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Ability Level: Expert
Years skiing/riding: 42
Average days per season: 100+
Favorite type of terrain:
Favorite conditions:
Are you a paid professional skier or snowboarder?: No
Are you a sponsored athlete?: No
Professional Snowsports Affiliation: (Shop name/Resort Name/Company/Brand):
Title: Powderoyabun
Certifications:
Years working in the Snowsports Industry: 10
Current City, Province/State and Country of Residence: Winter Park, Colorado, USA
Favorite Product Brands: Old Kastle’s
Major accomplishments: Knocked Robert Redford on his butt at Park City
